NORTH Yorkshire market towns are making a comeback on two fronts.

On one hand, the towns are enjoying increasing amounts of cash awards.

Now comes news that Ripon is to play host to the national convention of the movement promoting the towns.

Ripon will host the annual convention for the campaign group, Action For Market Towns, on September 22 and 23.

Turning Interest Into Action is expected to attract 200 delegates to find out the Countryside Agency's latest plans for market towns, ahead of the Government's launch of its rural white paper later in the Autumn.

Pam Warhurst, deputy chairwoman of the Countryside Agency, will present her vision for market towns in the new Millennium and the Ripon City Partnership will show delegates their initiatives at work.

At the beginning of August the partnership was awarded £2.8 million from Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, to cushion the impact of the closure of two colleges - Ripon and York St John and the University of York health studies college.

The cash will also help pay for a revamped park and ride scheme and a railway feasibility study.

The convention also follows the news that the twin towns of Malton and Norton had beenawarded what may amount to £1m regeneration cash.

The award for the towns from the Countryside Agency and Yorkshire Forward was made at the Halifax Agricultural Show.

The money has been given under the Market Towns Initiative, a pioneering Countryside Agency scheme launched in June. The scheme aims to help struggling market towns in Yorkshire, and will eventually be rolled out across the country.

Six towns in Yorkshire have been selected to receive money, although a total of 18 market towns in Yorkshire are to benefit over the next three years.

Selections were made on the basis of need, opportunity and the commitment of other partnership groups.

Each town has to draw up a plan of how they will spend the money to improve the area's transport, environment, economy, community and other areas.

emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk